The Best Private Schools in Lawton, North Dakota
Discover 3 exceptional private schools in Lawton. Find the perfect educational environment for your child with our comprehensive reviews and ratings.
School Overview
Top-Rated Private Schools
Oak Grove Lutheran School
Oak Grove Lutheran Schools
Oak Grove Lutheran School is a highly-regarded private Christian school serving southeastern North Dakota with a century-long tradition of academic excellence. The school offers comprehensive college preparatory programs from grades 6-12 with small class sizes and individualized attention. Facilities include modern science labs, performing arts spaces, and athletic complexes. The school emphasizes character development alongside rigorous academics, with strong STEM programs, competitive athletics, and extensive fine arts offerings. While located in Fargo, it serves students from across the region including the Lawton area.
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Shanley High School
Fargo Catholic Schools Network
Shanley High School is a premier Catholic college preparatory school serving the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area and surrounding regions including Lawton. The school offers a rigorous academic curriculum with numerous Advanced Placement courses, comprehensive fine arts programs, and competitive athletics. With a strong focus on faith formation and service learning, Shanley provides a well-rounded education in a supportive community environment. The campus features modern classrooms, science laboratories, performing arts center, and athletic facilities, serving students from across eastern North Dakota.
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Park Christian School
Park Christian School
Park Christian School is a respected private Christian school located in Moorhead, Minnesota, serving the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area and drawing students from nearby North Dakota communities including Lawton. The school offers comprehensive educational programs from preschool through high school with a strong college preparatory focus. Curriculum emphasizes academic excellence integrated with Christian values, featuring robust STEM programs, fine arts, athletics, and technology integration. The school maintains small class sizes and offers extensive extracurricular opportunities while serving as a regional educational option for families seeking private Christian education.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about private schools in Lawton, North Dakota
What are the private school options for families living in or near Lawton, North Dakota?
While Lawton itself is a very small community, families in the area typically look to nearby Fargo for private school options, as it is the major educational hub of the region. The top schools you'll consider, all within a reasonable commuting distance, include Oak Grove Lutheran School (grades 6-12 in Fargo), Shanley High School (Catholic, grades 9-12 in Fargo), and Park Christian School (PreK-12, with campuses in Moorhead, MN, and Fargo, ND). For younger grades, other Fargo-based elementary programs may also be accessible. It's important for Lawton residents to factor in the daily commute to the Fargo-Moorhead metro area when considering these schools.
How does North Dakota's Choice in Education Tuition Grant affect private school tuition for Lawton families?
North Dakota's Choice in Education Tuition Grant is a significant financial consideration for families across the state, including those in Lawton. This state-funded grant provides financial assistance to K-12 students attending approved private schools. For the 2024-2025 school year, the grant amount is approximately $1,800 per student. This grant is paid directly to the participating school (like Oak Grove, Shanley, or Park Christian) to offset your tuition costs. It's crucial to confirm each school's participation and understand that tuition costs, even with the grant, will vary significantly, often ranging from several thousand to over $10,000 per year, with additional fees.
What unique academic or extracurricular programs do private schools near Lawton, ND, offer that might not be available in local public schools?
Private schools in the Fargo-Moorhead area accessible to Lawton families often provide specialized programs that leverage their institutional missions. For example, Oak Grove Lutheran offers a strong college-prep curriculum with distinctive theology and fine arts programs. Shanley High School provides a comprehensive Catholic education with specific theology requirements and often robust athletic traditions. Park Christian School integrates a Christian worldview across all subjects and may offer unique travel or mission opportunities. Compared to the smaller, rural public school districts surrounding Lawton, these private options can offer a wider variety of advanced placement (AP) courses, larger athletic conferences, and more diverse arts and club activities due to their size and location in the metro area.
What is the typical enrollment timeline and process for private high schools like Shanley or Oak Grove for a student from Lawton?
The enrollment process for Fargo-area private schools is highly structured and begins early. For high schools like Shanley and Oak Grove, the priority application period for the following academic year often opens in the fall (October-November) and closes by early winter (January-February). The process typically involves submitting an application, academic records, teacher recommendations, and often a family interview or student assessment. As a family from a smaller community like Lawton, it's advisable to initiate contact with the admissions office well in advance, attend open houses (usually held in the fall), and inquire about transportation or carpool options with other families from your area. Waiting lists are common, so early application is strongly recommended.
For a family in Lawton, what are the key factors in deciding between the local public school and a private school in Fargo?
The decision hinges on several location-specific factors. The primary consideration is **commute**: attending a Fargo private school means a daily drive of 30+ minutes each way, which impacts family logistics, student involvement in after-school activities, and transportation costs. **Financial investment** is another major factor, weighing the cost of private tuition (even with the ND grant) against the no-tuition cost of the local public school. **Educational environment** is key: smaller, community-centered public schools in the Lawton area versus larger, mission-driven private schools with potentially more academic and extracurricular variety. Finally, consider **values alignment**: if a faith-based education or a specific pedagogical approach is important, the private options may be compelling despite the commute. Visiting both your local public school and the Fargo private campuses is essential for comparison.
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